The Stolen Goddess

by Richard L. Purtill

Book Overview

The Stolen Goddess: Book Two of the Kaphtu Trilogy Ducalion finds that the road to Hades is paved with bad intentions when he must venture to the deathlands in search of a kidnapped goddess. "Richard... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879975849
• Release Date: December 1980
• Publisher: DAW
• Length: 159 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.0" x 1.0" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Morphing the Myths

At last Richard Purtill's Kaphtu Trilogy has returned to print. These new large size paperback collector editions feature acid-free paper, an interior illustration, and full color fantasy cover art (see the author's website at alivingdog.com for a comparison of the covers). The cover of The Golden Gryphon Feather (Book One) is by George Barr, who also did the late '70s DAW books edition cover. Don Maitz, whose art adorned the DAW cover of Purtill's The Mirror of Helen, provided original paintings for the covers of both The Mirror of Helen and The Stolen Goddess in these new editions. While this second story continues the adventures of book one, it also stands on its own, and it's not necessary to read the earlier books to follow the trilogy's story line. Purtill sketched the book's setting in ancient Athens and Crete from his many visits to Greece, and fleshed out characters drawn from mythology. Beyond that, his novelization weaves between history and imagination to tell the story of Ducalion, a young seafarer who braves the Hounds of Hades in search of a kidnapped goddess. On the way he encounters Dionysius and Artemis, and finds himself in the midst of a feud between Olympians. The volatile tempers of the Titans alternately swerve between great generosity and cold vengeance, lending an aura of suspense, and the ones Ducalion encounters don't seem to like mortals. You don't need any background in Homeric legends to read the trilogy, but those familiar with ancient tales will find echoes everywhere. Like Homer, Purtill feels at liberty to morph the myths, with gods and half-gods forever emerging from their ancient haunts. While they can be read separately, all three books of the trilogy interact, and a Return to Kaphtu trilogy is in the works, with a new fantasy, The Athenian Owl Enchantment, due out next year.